Adobe Illustrator CS5 Classroom in a Book

While I've worked a bit with other components of the Adobe Creative Suite, I was an absolute beginner when it comes to Illustrator, and really needed a simple guide to become familiar with the interface, tools and basic strategies. While I'm primarily interested in After Effects and Premiere Pro and Photoshop, I wanted to learn Illustrator because it's one of the best ways to create some of the elements I'd want to animate in After Effects or include in my composite images in Photoshop, or use as Buttons in Encore CS5 - and if you go through any of the major training textbooks for those programs they will invariably include several elements originally created within Illustrator CS5. Still, Illustrator's not a program you can just jump into, since it's designed for precision - this is not really a free hand or free style drawing or painting program, where you just pick up a pencil and scribble or a brush and express - it's much more like a precision tool-driven drafting, design, and illustration program. Moreover, it's vector based, which means that the shapes and designs you create with it are size independent - and will have the same quality whether they're output in a small format (like on a postcard) or a huge format (like on a poster). So I needed an introduction, and this is the one I picked. Apart from a few minor gripes, I'm quite happy with it. Unlike other software guides I've tried there's no humor here, and it's strictly business, but is straightforward and practical and clear. Some might call it dry, but what they're aiming for here and manage nicely is clarity and directness and practical impact, a thorough hands-on introduction to the basic tools and possibilities of Illustrator CS5. I've got a lot more to learn, but mostly that'll come from more doing. After working through this book, I have a pretty good idea how Illustrator CS5 works and am no longer an absolute beginner. The basic pedagogical approach of the Classroom in a Box series is simple: tell 'em what they're going to do, tell them how to do it, then remind them what they've done (and suggest they try it again in different ways, without guidance this time). The emphasis here is on hands-on exposure, rather than explanation. That's good, in many ways, but sometimes I wish they'd tell me why a bit more often, sometimes I wish I had a bit more in the way of explanation. There's usually a bit of explanation at the beginning of each chapter, and then an exercise, and a few little explanatory tips throughout. Still, the emphasis here is on hands-on introductions to the range of tools and features of Illustrator, so that the reader can quickly get a sense of what can be done. It seems to me the basic assumption is that the whys will come later. Each chapter leads you through the creation of one or more projects that introduce a new set of tools and strategies, from the basics of knowing how the program is set up and how to tailor it for specific needs, through using the selection and arrangement tools, creating and editing shapes, transforming objects and using the tools for drawing and painting and text, and then using layers and perspective and blending tools, and working with brushes and effects and styles and symbols. I really liked their approach in the drawing chapter, that led me through a series of exercises where I was learning to precision trace an established set of curves and lines and shapes - especially since the pen is so useful in Photoshop and After Effects and I've used it quite a bit, but I think I finally understand how to work it and get exactly the curves and lines I want. I will say in general that while occasionally I felt a bit confused when they asked me to do something I didn't understand yet, by the end of the book it was all making sense - the "whys" really did come later. The opening chapter throws you into a fairly advanced project, and that was where I got stuck the most. Some of the options available in the Illustrator workspace are contextual, so that when I accidentally didn't follow one instruction I could be quickly lost and not know how to do what they asked me to do next. Eventually I figured things out, but it was a bit disorienting, and took a lot longer than the "one hour" they estimated, and it might have helped to have a few more helping hints explaining what to do when I didn't see the options they were asking me to use. But that's a minor gripe, because as the chapters advanced I ran into that less and less, since I was becoming familiar with the interface, and then the instructions had the advantage of leading me as quickly as possible through some very cool examples that I could easily see as applicable to real world uses of this program. The main point of the opening chapter, after all, was to get the reader into doing things quickly so I'd be excited about the possibilities before going back and mastering the basic skills. In that it succeeded quite well, and the rest of the book is more straightforward and step-by-step. The emphasis still stays with exposure over explanation, but for the most part the explanations are superfluous once you've seen how each tool works. Plus, there are several points where the book indicates resources for better understanding the tools introduced. The book comes with a CD that contains all the files needed for following along and completing each of the hands-on examples in the book. Highly recommended for beginners, and for those who are upgrading to Illustrator from an older package and want a refresher. CONTENTS......Page 5 Prerequisites......Page 16 To install the Classroom in a Book files......Page 17 To save current Illustrator preferences......Page 18 Additional resources......Page 19 Adobe certification......Page 21 Beautiful Strokes......Page 23 Shape Builder tool......Page 24 Resolution-independent Effects......Page 25 Integration with Adobe CS Review......Page 26 Lesson overview......Page 27 Working with multiple artboards......Page 29 Creating shapes......Page 30 Working with the Shape Builder tool......Page 31 Working with strokes......Page 33 Working with color groups and recoloring artwork......Page 34 Using Live Trace......Page 36 Using Live Paint......Page 37 Working with the Blob Brush tool......Page 38 Working with type......Page 39 Using the Appearance panel and effects......Page 40 Working with brushes......Page 41 Creating and editing a gradient......Page 42 Working with symbols......Page 44 Working with perspective......Page 45 Lesson overview......Page 47 Getting started......Page 49 Understanding the workspace......Page 52 Working with the Tools panel......Page 53 The Control panel......Page 56 Working with panels......Page 57 Resetting and saving your workspace......Page 61 Using panel menus......Page 62 Using the view commands......Page 63 Using the Zoom tool......Page 64 Scrolling through a document......Page 65 Viewing artwork......Page 66 Navigating multiple artboards......Page 67 Using the Navigator panel......Page 69 Understanding rulers......Page 70 Arranging multiple documents......Page 71 Document groups......Page 74 Searching for a topic in the Search For Help box......Page 76 Exploring on your own......Page 77 Lesson overview......Page 79 Using the Selection tool......Page 81 Using the Direct Selection tool......Page 83 Creating selections with a marquee......Page 84 Creating selections with the Magic Wand tool......Page 85 Selecting similar objects......Page 86 Aligning to a key object......Page 87 Distributing objects......Page 88 Aligning to the artboard......Page 89 Group items......Page 90 Adding to a group......Page 91 Arrange objects......Page 93 Hiding objects......Page 94 Applying selection techniques......Page 95 Exploring on your own......Page 97 Lesson overview......Page 99 Creating a document with multiple artboards......Page 101 Working with basic shapes......Page 103 Understanding drawing modes......Page 104 Creating rectangles......Page 105 Creating rounded rectangles......Page 108 Creating ellipses......Page 109 Creating polygons......Page 110 Draw Inside mode......Page 111 Changing stroke width and alignment......Page 114 Working with line segments......Page 115 Joining paths......Page 117 Creating Stars......Page 118 Using the Eraser tool......Page 119 Using the Width tool......Page 120 Working with the Shape Builder tool......Page 124 Working with Pathfinder effects......Page 127 Working with shape modes......Page 129 Using Live Trace to create shapes......Page 131 Exploring on your own......Page 133 Lesson overview......Page 135 Getting started......Page 137 Adding artboards to the document......Page 138 Editing artboards......Page 139 Renaming Artboards......Page 142 Working with rulers and guides......Page 143 Scaling objects......Page 144 Reflecting objects......Page 147 Rotating objects......Page 148 Distorting objects......Page 149 Shearing objects......Page 151 Positioning objects precisely......Page 152 Changing the perspective......Page 153 Multiple transformations......Page 155 Using the Free Distort effect......Page 156 Exploring on your own......Page 157 Lesson overview......Page 159 Getting started......Page 161 Creating straight lines......Page 163 Creating curved paths......Page 164 Building a curve......Page 166 Converting curved points to corner points......Page 168 Selecting a curve......Page 171 Drawing a curved shape......Page 172 Drawing different kinds of curves......Page 173 Drawing the violin shape......Page 174 Creating the strings......Page 176 Adding arrowheads......Page 177 Creating a dashed line......Page 179 Editing curves......Page 180 Deleting and adding anchor points......Page 181 Convert between smooth points and corner points......Page 183 Drawing with the Pencil tool......Page 185 Editing with the Pencil tool......Page 186 Assembling the parts......Page 187 Exploring on your own......Page 189 Lesson overview......Page 191 Understanding color......Page 193 Understanding the color controls......Page 194 Building and saving a custom color......Page 197 Editing a swatch......Page 198 Using Illustrator swatch libraries......Page 199 Creating a spot color......Page 200 Using the Color Picker......Page 201 Creating and saving a tint of a color......Page 202 Creating color groups......Page 203 Working with the Color Guide panel......Page 205 Editing a color group......Page 206 Editing colors in artwork......Page 209 Working with the Kuler panel......Page 211 Assigning colors to your artwork......Page 213 Applying existing patterns......Page 216 Creating your own pattern......Page 218 Editing a pattern......Page 219 Creating a Live Paint group......Page 221 Editing Live Paint regions......Page 223 Working with Gap Options......Page 225 Exploring on your own......Page 226 Lesson overview......Page 229 Getting started......Page 231 Creating point type......Page 232 Creating area type......Page 233 Importing a plain text file......Page 234 Creating columns of text......Page 235 Understanding text flow......Page 236 Working with overflow text and text reflow......Page 237 Threading text......Page 238 Resizing type objects......Page 239 Formatting type......Page 241 Changing the font size......Page 243 Changing additional text attributes......Page 244 Changing paragraph attributes......Page 246 Creating and using a paragraph style......Page 248 Creating and using a character style......Page 249 Sampling text......Page 250 Reshaping text with an envelope warp......Page 251 Creating text on open paths......Page 254 Creating text on closed paths......Page 255 Creating text outlines......Page 257 Exploring on your own......Page 259 Lesson overview......Page 261 Getting started......Page 263 Creating layers......Page 265 Moving objects and layers......Page 267 Locking layers......Page 268 Viewing layers......Page 269 Pasting layers......Page 271 Creating clipping masks......Page 274 Merging layers......Page 275 Applying appearance attributes to layers......Page 277 Isolating layers......Page 279 Exploring on your own......Page 281 Lesson overview......Page 285 Understanding perspective......Page 287 Using a preset grid......Page 288 Editing the Perspective Grid......Page 289 Drawing objects in perspective......Page 292 Selecting and transforming objects in perspective......Page 294 Attaching objects to perspective......Page 299 Editing planes and objects together......Page 300 Adding and editing text in perspective......Page 305 Transforming Symbols in perspective......Page 307 Release content from perspective......Page 310 Exploring on your own......Page 311 Lesson overview......Page 313 Getting started......Page 315 Creating and applying a linear gradient......Page 316 Adjusting the direction and angle of a gradient blend......Page 319 Creating a radial gradient......Page 320 Changing colors and adjusting the gradient......Page 321 Applying gradients to multiple objects......Page 324 Adding transparency to gradients......Page 328 Working with blended objects......Page 330 Creating a blend with specified steps......Page 331 Modifying the blend......Page 332 Creating smooth color blends......Page 334 Exploring on your own......Page 336 Lesson overview......Page 339 Getting started......Page 341 Using Calligraphic brushes......Page 342 Editing a brush......Page 343 Remove a brush stroke......Page 344 Drawing with the Paintbrush tool......Page 345 Editing paths with the Paintbrush tool......Page 346 Create an Art brush......Page 348 Edit an Art brush......Page 349 Changing bristle brush options......Page 350 Painting with a Bristle brush......Page 351 Using Pattern brushes......Page 353 Creating a Pattern brush......Page 355 Applying a Pattern brush......Page 357 Changing a brush color using Tints colorization......Page 359 Changing the brush color using Hue Shift colorization......Page 361 Working with the Blob Brush tool......Page 362 Merging paths with the Blob Brush tool......Page 363 Editing with the Eraser tool......Page 364 Exploring on your own......Page 366 Lesson overview......Page 369 Getting started......Page 371 Applying an effect......Page 372 Editing an effect......Page 374 Styling text with effects......Page 375 Editing shapes with a Pathfinder effect......Page 378 Offsetting paths......Page 379 Applying a Photoshop effect......Page 381 Creating a revolved object......Page 384 Changing the lighting of a 3D object......Page 386 Mapping a symbol to the 3D artwork......Page 387 Exploring on your own......Page 390 Lesson overview......Page 393 Getting started......Page 395 Editing and adding appearance attributes......Page 396 Reordering appearance attributes......Page 398 Adding an additional stroke and fill......Page 399 Using graphic styles......Page 400 Creating and saving a graphic style......Page 401 Applying a graphic style to a layer......Page 402 Applying existing graphic styles......Page 405 Adding to an existing graphic style......Page 407 Copying, applying, and removing graphic styles......Page 409 Exploring on your own......Page 412 Lesson overview......Page 415 Getting started......Page 417 Using existing Illustrator symbol libraries......Page 418 Creating symbols......Page 421 Editing a symbol......Page 422 Breaking a link to a symbol......Page 424 Replacing symbols......Page 425 Spraying symbol instances......Page 426 Editing symbols with the Symbolism tools......Page 429 Copy and edit symbol sets......Page 431 Storing and retrieving artwork in the Symbols panel......Page 432 Symbols and Flash integration......Page 433 Exploring on your own......Page 437 Lesson overview......Page 439 Working with Adobe Bridge......Page 441 Vector versus bitmap graphics......Page 443 Placing a Photoshop file......Page 445 Duplicating and editing a placed image......Page 446 Embed a Photoshop image with Layer comps......Page 448 Applying color edits to a placed image......Page 450 Editing a mask......Page 452 Masking an object with multiple shapes......Page 453 Release a mask......Page 454 Creating an opacity mask......Page 455 Sampling colors in placed images......Page 458 Replacing a placed, linked image......Page 459 Exporting a layered file to Photoshop......Page 460 Illustrator and Adobe Flash Catalyst......Page 461 Exploring on your own......Page 462 A......Page 465 B......Page 466 C......Page 467 D......Page 468 F......Page 469 J......Page 470 M......Page 471 P......Page 472 S......Page 474 T......Page 476 Z......Page 477 Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Illustrator CS5 choose Adobe Illustrator CS5 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 15 project-based lessons in this book show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working in Illustrator CS5. Readers learn how to create vector artwork for virtually any project and across multiple media: print, websites, interactive projects, and video. In addition to learning the key elements of the Illustrator interface, they'll learn how to integrate their artwork with Adobe Flash movies, Adobe InDesign layouts, and Adobe Flash Catalyst software to add interaction to their designs. This completely revised CS5 edition covers new perspective drawing tools, variable-width watercolor strokes, multiple artboards with video-specific presets, the new realistic Bristle brush and Shape Builder tool, and the ability to maintain consistent raster effects across media. “The Classroom in a Book series is by far the best training material on the market. Everything you need to master the software is included: clear explanations of each lesson, step-by-step instructions, and the project files for the students.” —Barbara Binder, Adobe Certified Instructor, Rocky Mountain Training. Classroom in a Book®, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program does—an official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts. All of Peachpit's eBooks contain the same content as the print edition. You will find a link in the last few pages of your eBook that directs you to the media files. Helpful tips: If you are able to search the book, search for'Where are the lesson files?'Go to the very last page of the book and scroll backwards. You will need a web-enabled device or computer in order to access the media files that accompany this ebook. Entering the URL supplied into a computer with web access will allow you to get to the files. Depending on your device, it is possible that your display settings will cut off part of the URL. To make sure this is not the case, try reducing your font size and turning your device to a landscape view. This should cause the full URL to appear.

Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Illustrator CS5 choose Adobe Illustrator CS5 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 15 project-based lessons in this book show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working in Illustrator CS5.

Readers learn how to create vector artwork for virtually any project and across multiple media: print, websites, interactive projects, and video. In addition to learning the key elements of the Illustrator interface, they'll learn how to integrate their artwork with Adobe Flash movies, Adobe InDesign layouts, and Adobe Flash Catalyst software to add interaction to their designs.

This completely revised CS5 edition covers new perspective drawing tools, variable-width watercolor strokes, multiple artboards with video-specific presets, the new realistic Bristle brush and Shape Builder tool, and the ability to maintain consistent raster effects across media.

“The Classroom in a Book series is by far the best training material on the market. Everything you need to master the software is included: clear explanations of each lesson, step-by-step instructions, and the project files for the students.” —Barbara Binder, Adobe Certified Instructor, Rocky Mountain Training

Classroom in a Book®, the best-selling series of hands-on software training workbooks, helps you learn the features of Adobe software quickly and easily. Classroom in a Book offers what no other book or training program does—an official training series from Adobe Systems Incorporated, developed with the support of Adobe product experts.

Annotation Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Illustrator CS5 choose Adobe Illustrator CS5 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 15 project-based lessons in this book show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working in Illustrator CS5. Readers learn how to create vector artwork for virtually any project and across multiple media: print, websites, interactive projects, and video. In addition to learning the key elements of the Illustrator interface, they'll learn how to integrate their artwork with Adobe Flash movies, Adobe InDesign layouts, and Adobe Flash Catalyst software to add interaction to their designs. This completely revised CS5 edition covers new perspective drawing tools, variable-width watercolor strokes, multiple artboards with video-specific presets, the new realistic Bristle brush and Shape Builder tool, and the ability to maintain consistent raster effects across media. Getting started -- What's new in Adobe Illustrator CS5 -- A quick tour of Adobe Illustrator CS5 -- Getting to know the work area -- Selecting and aligning -- Creating and editing shapes -- Transforming objects -- Drawing with the pen and pencil tools -- Color and painting -- Working with type -- Working with layers -- Working with perspective drawing -- Blending colors and shapes -- Working with brushes -- Applying effects -- Applying appearance attributes and graphic styles -- Working with symbols -- Combining Illustrator CS5 graphics with other Adobe applications